Around the Lake: Entree Gallery at Reeder Bay August 2010

PRESS RELEASE
The Entree Gallery at Reeder Bay is currently displaying “Inspirations and Dedications”, featuring pastel on handmade bark paper, and bronzes, by Monica Stobie. The show, which runs August 1-31 at the Reeder Bay gallery, presents elements of ancient rock drawings, re-imagined by Stobie and created into unique compositions. The gallery will host an artist reception for Stobie on August 8, from 5-7pm.

As a high school art teacher, Stobie became fascinated by the rock art found on basalt cliffs and crags along the Columbia and Snake rivers. “The discovery of those old images was an awakening,” she says. “I was hooked.” The artist, who grew up near the Yakima Indian reservation and attended church services at its Catholic mission, says the tribal culture is very much a part of her, and is reflected in her work. Stobie has done extensive research on tribal cultures, petroglyphs and other rock art, and has visited sites throughout North America, Europe and Africa.

Her pastel images, reminiscent of the primitive work found on cave walls, almost glow against the background of the textured paper, which looks like rock, and holds the pastel color in its coarse fibers. The paper, handmade in Mexico from indigenous tree bark, is processed by a method believed to be the oldest paper-making process in the Western hemisphere. Stobie explains that it is this paper that becomes the primitive “canvas” for to the oldest art known to mankind.

The Entree Gallery, now at two locations, invites the public to view the work of over 150 regional artists. The gallery at Reeder Bay is located just two miles east of Nordman at 1755 Reeder Bay Rd, and can be contacted at 208 443-2001. The Coolin Bay gallery, located two doors from the Leonard Paul Store on Bay View Rd, can be contacted at 208 443-2002. Summer hours at both galleries are daily, 10am-6pm.

Go Ask Alice: Alice in Wonderland-Themed Show Opens at Tinman

Kurt Madison's jewelry

Bernadette Vielbig's sculpture

Tinman Gallery reopened this past Friday to a packed house nibbling on scrumptious little chocolate cupcakes with a marshmallow-y topping instructing "Eat Me." Conrad Bagley handed out invitations to his Mad Hatter party upcoming in August and everywhere the mood was festive and bright (like the melon-colored walls of the newly remodeled space).

This is the second such themed exhibition at Tinman (last year was The Wizard of Oz) and a nice break from more formal or individual pursuits we see around town. Some of the work was exceptionally well done, high level and refined; other pieces were a bit schlocky and at least a few felt woefully underdone. All in all, though, there was a reasonable range of artists--including longtimers Lila Girvin and Harold Balazs, as well as an underrated assemblage artist, Larry Ellingson.

For the Inlander writeup, click here.

At the Gallery opening night

Art and Sports: David Govedare Sculptures Unveiled at Sports Complex

"The Dwight Merkel Sports Complex has completed renovation and will re-open Saturday, August 7^th, 2010 at 10am. As a part of these improvements the Spokane Arts Commission and the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department commissioned artist David Govedare to enhance the site improvements. Two sculptures have been created 16 feet above ground, with the main body constructed of steel hoops mimicking movement. The sculptures are colorful, banner-like, playful and reflective of light.

The project is a part of the 2007 Bond Issue which was approved by voters with an overwhelming 68% “yes” vote.  The $42.9 million 2007 bond issue has funded the construction and development of a variety of aquatics and youth sports projects throughout the City of Spokane."

I think he should have redesigned the goal posts for the football stadium. Wouldn't it be more fun to watch the kicker send the ball into something more interesting than a the field goal posts? A sculpture of a gorilla with its arms up or a person doing a handstand, their legs becoming the goal posts. It could look like a version of a Japanese game show. Much more fun to watch...

Art on the Green: Coeur d'Alene Shines in Annual Event

Street performers in the background ranged from the Incan flute players to a young man playing classical fiddle with a folksy twist. Smells of fried food from various vendors wafting through the air. A trickle of tourists and locals becomes a stream, then a river, as the day warms up at Art on the Green, Coeur d'Alene's annual arts festival.

Kids are everywhere in all shapes and sizes, including on the beach, totally oblivious to the wonders of the art world unfolding in the tents and display booths along the pathway in the park or snaking around the edge of North Idaho College's grassy campus.

Scott Dodson's sand sculpture

We went early to this annual event, this indicator of August and summer winding down. School is not far off. Fall. Fewer people along the promenade. Only Idaho plates in the parking lot.

But for the first weekend in August, Coeur d'Alene shines. And we all fall in love with this place all over again. And maybe some newcomers, too, realize the charm of such a place. Sure it's crowded. But it's a festival. A celebration of the arts. And community. A chance to see old friends, like the parents of students and even former students themselves, including the one who excitedly showed me his first art purchase: an enamel by Allen and Mary Dee Dodge.

I told him he'd chosen well, then smiled to myself when I saw a lovely enamel by the Dodges included in the juried art show display. Their work with legendary enamelist Harold Balazs shows in this piece.

We bought some trinkets for friends--a great place for jewelry--and a few for ourselves. And we ate well (why go to Spokane for Azar's gyros when you know they'll be coming to you during events such as these!). But mostly we marveled at our good fortune for living in such a lovely area.

And then we went home and napped. Ah, summer.

Call for Arts Awards Nominations Due August 6

The Spokane Arts Commission announces an open call for nominations for the 2010 City of Spokane Arts Awards.  The 19^th Annual Arts Awards will be presented in six categories during a public meeting of the Spokane City Council Monday, October 4^th at 6pm. A reception will be held following the presentation to honor this year’s nominees and recipients. 

Individuals, organizations and businesses are encouraged to nominate candidates for these awards in the following categories: Individual Artist; Arts Organization; Arts in Education; Individual Benefactor; Business Benefactor; and Arts Community Leadership.

Arts Awards online nomination form is available at www.spokanearts.org/awards.aspx.  Deadline for submissions is Friday, August 6, 2010.

For a complete list of past winners visit www.spokanearts.org/awards.aspx.

"Will work for Mel McCuddin Paintings"

If I stood on a street corner in Coeur d'Alene with this sign, I doubt anyone would get it. Unless they'd seen his paintings, of course, then they might realize that something about them invokes covetous behavior. Here is the one I wish for, called Reveries.

The exhibit, at The Art Spirit Galleryhttp://www.theartspiritgallery.com/html/home.asp, goes through August 7.

The Wonderful World of Harold Balazs: Northwest MAC through October

The line to purchase a book was several dozen deep while down below in the gallery, Balazs had already begun signing the gorgeous volume that accompanies his retrospective at the MAC. Ever clever, Balazs even numbered his signatures to correspond with the individually numbered/signed, hand-pulled prints that will appear in EACH book. The man is unstoppable!

Of course any exhibition at the MAC is an opportunity to run into friends and colleagues and this was no exception. The gallery was packed, as was the outdoor reception area. So crowded it was hard to see all the amazing artwork.

One of my favorite things was the inclusion of a portion of his studio.  Imagine looking in the kitchen of Julia Child or the science lab of Louis Pasteur.  It's a rare glimpse into how a mind works. Awesome.

For more info and a great visual/essay in Inlander, click here.


For a podcast from KYRS radio, featuring Harold, video artist Tom Dukich, and MAC arts curator, Ben Mitchell, click here.